MACC board: OK to Hannibal campus items

Moberly Area Community College’s Board of Trustees approved several measures pertaining to their new Hannibal campus during Monday night’s (Sept. 23) regular meeting.

First up on their agenda was a recommendation by College President Jeff Lashley for the board to enter into a three-year agreement with MOREnet to provide 50-megabit internet connectivity (throttled at 20 megabits) on the campus, starting “on or near Dec. 1, 2013”.

The annualized amount for this service will be $14,700, with AT&T chosen via a University of Missouri competitive bidding process as the project’s lowest and best vendor. Moneys for the connection will be funded “using institutional technology funds,” it was noted.

Lloyd Marchant was approved to execute the online electronic authorization on the project.

The second Hannibal-related measure pertained to replacement of prior Irrevocable Standby Letters of Credit, approved in May by the board, on a pair of loans used in financing the construction of said new campus.

These loans are for $1 million and $360,000.

The board approved, in replacement, a Pledge Custodian Agreement — Secured Party with Commerce Bank, as well as a Security Agreement for Certificate of Deposit, Promissory Note, and Loan Agreement with Ralls County Electric Cooperative.

“The promissory notes and loan agreements establish the interest-free loan with Ralls County Electric Cooperative,” said Lashley on Monday.

Finally, $284,974 in furniture was approved for purchase at Monday’s meeting, for the Hannibal and expanding Columbia campuses, from Smart Business Products, Columbia.

Per the board packet, “[bid] advertisements were placed in the Moberly and Columbia newspapers, and a public bid opening was held at 11 a.m., Sept. 17, 2013.

A second was received from Staples Contract and Commercial, Inc. — a St. Louis-based company — in the amount of $279,225. This bid, however, did not meet bid specifications, and was, therefore, not considered, despite its lower price.